System and method for detection of vaporized aerosols

ABSTRACT

A vaporized aerosol detection system is presented herein. The system can include a motion sensor that is configured to detect movement in a predetermined or desired area. Further, the motion sensor can be configured to generate a detection signal in response to one or more detected objects in the area. The system can also include a particle sensor electronically coupled to the motion sensor. The particle sensor can be configured to detect a particle count of the area when the objects are detected by the motion sensor. Further, the system can include a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the motion sensor and particle sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/929,888 filed on Nov. 3, 2019 andentitled “Cloud Enabled Sensor”, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of detection ofvaporized aerosols. In particular, the present invention is directed toa system and method of sensors and signals to detect particles in avaporized aerosol and alert one or more users to its detection.

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) andElectronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS) requires the detectionof the products of those systems in certain indoor areas and/orvehicles. Currently, some systems for the detection of vaporizedaerosols are used in limited settings. Further these systems are limitedby their power management and lack of adaptability.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, a vaporized aerosol detection system. The system cancomprise a motion sensor configured to detect movement in anenvironment. Further, the motion sensor can be configured to generateand store a detection signal in response to detected movement in theenvironment. The system may also include a particle sensor that iselectronically coupled to the motion sensor. The particle sensor can beconfigured to detect a particle count of the environment in response tothe generation of the detection signal. Further, the system can includea housing that is configured to enclose at least a portion of the motionsensor and at least a portion of the particle sensor.

In another aspect, a method for vaporized aerosol detection. The methodcan include detecting, by a motion sensor, movement in an environment.Further, the method can include generating, by the motion sensor, adetection signal in response to detected movement in the environment.Also, the method can comprise detecting, by a particle sensorelectronically coupled to the motion sensor, a particle count of theenvironment in response to the generation of the detection signal.Additionally, at least a portion of the motion sensor and at least aportion of the particle sensor can be enclosed in a housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a vaporized aerosol detectionsystem, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view illustrating a housing for a vaporizedaerosol detection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2B is an isometric cutaway view illustrating a housing for avaporized aerosol detection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for vaporized aerosoldetection, according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of power management of avaporized aerosol detection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a graph representing example graphical thresholding values,according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device in the exampleform of a computer system, according to embodiments.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated byphantom lines, diagrammatic representations, and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details that are not necessary for an understandingof the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceivemay have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At a high level, with reference to FIG. 1, a system of sensors andcomponents to detect particles in a vaporized aerosol is provided. Thesystem comprises a device disposed in an environment where a substancesuch as a vaporized aerosol containing chemical particles may be presentand may be connected to at least one of a plurality of servers. In anaspect, a housing may encapsulate at least a portion of the systemcomponents. The housing may be disposed in an environment having avaporized aerosol present. Particles may be present and have amicroscopic or macroscopic size, a distribution, and a count. Devices ofthe system may enter a low power consumption mode to extend componentand battery life.

Referring now to FIG. 1, vaporized aerosol detection system 100 isconfigured to detect substances 112 within environment 104 and generatean alarm based on the detected particles. Substances 112 may compriseaerosolized particles, substances of interest (such as smoke fromtobacco, smoke from drug use, or the like), gasses, gaseous clouds,gaseous chemicals, biologicals (such as viruses, bacteria, pathogens, orthe like) or any combination thereof. Further, vaporized aerosoldetection system 100 can be configured to transmit and store a signalindicating an alarm and/or data relating to the detected particles to atleast one server of a plurality of servers 156 A-C. Any and all signalsgenerated by vaporized aerosol detection system 100 may be additionallyor alternatively stored onboard in a memory (discussed below) orremotely on servers 156 A-C.

According to embodiments, vaporized aerosol detection system 100 caninclude motion sensor 116, sensor suite 160 (including particle sensor120, chemical sensor 124, temperature sensor 128, humidity sensor 132,or any combination thereof), alarm 148, battery 144, electronics stack140, tamper sensor 136, housing 152, or any combination thereof.

In embodiments, motion sensor 116 comprises one or more sensors eachconfigured to detect motion, proximity, and/or presence and isconfigured to detect the motion, proximity, and/or presence of one ormore objects 108 A, B within environment 104. For example, motion sensor116 may include light sensors (such as infrared sensors, passiveinfrared sensors, area reflective type sensors, etc.), microwavesensors, ultrasound sensors, vibration sensors, dual technology sensors,or any combination thereof, to name a few. Objects 108 A, B can includepeople, animals, vehicles, inanimate objects, or any combinationthereof, to name a few examples. For example, motion sensor 116 can beconfigured to detect the motion of a person in environment 104.According to embodiments, motion sensor 116 can be configured to detectwhen objects 108 A, B enter or leave environment 104 such as byobserving the motion, proximity, and/or presence of objects 108 A, B.

According to embodiments, environment 104 can comprise an area ofinterest in which vaporized aerosols are prohibited or discouraged. Forexample, environment 104 can include areas of a school (such asclassrooms, halls, bathrooms, school yards, gymnasiums, school buses, orany combination thereof, to name a few), rental vehicles (such as rentalcars, moving trucks, rented recreational vehicles, etc.), businessvehicles (such as company cars, vans, tractor-trailer trucks, etc.),rideshare vehicles, areas of an airplane, train, and/or bus (such ascockpits, cabins, bathrooms, or any combination thereof, to name a few),residences, rental homes, rental apartments, hotels (such as hotelrooms, hotel conference rooms, ballrooms, etc.), motel rooms, workplaces(such as offices, factories, warehouses, parking structures, or anycombination thereof, to name a few), hospitals, correctional facilities,or any combination thereof.

In embodiments, when motion sensor 116 detects the motion, proximity,duration, speed, size, and/or presence of objects 108 A, B, motionsensor 116 may be configured to generate a detection signal. Thedetection signal can comprise an analog and/or digital signal indicatingthe motion, proximity, and/or presence of objects 108 A, B withinenvironment 104. According to embodiments, motion signal 116 can beconfigured to generate the detection signal when it detects an object108 A, B entering environment 104. In embodiments, the detection signalcan indicate a time, size, speed, duration, and/or quantity of objects108 A, B within and/or entering environment 104.

According to embodiments, motion sensor 116 can be electronically and/orcommunicatively coupled to electronics stack 140 and can be configuredto provide the detection signal to electronics stack 140 when thedetection signal is generated. Electronics stack 140 can comprise analogand/or digital circuitry configured to condition, analyze, and/ortransform received signals. For example, electronics stack 140 cancomprise a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a power microcontroller, aprocessor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analogconverter, logic circuitry, a memory (e.g. flash memory, hard diskdrive, solid state memory, random-access memory, programmable read-onlymemory, electronically erasable programmable read-only memory, or anycombination thereof, to name a few), or any combination thereof, to namea few. According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 can be configuredto store received signals from motion sensor 116 in a memory.

In embodiments, electronics stack 140 may be configured to determine ifan object 108 A, B has entered environment 104 by analyzing the receiveddetection signal. Analyzing the detection signal can include comparing alevel of the detection signal to a movement threshold value, comparing atime indicated by the detection signal, a time threshold, comparing aduration indicated by the detection signal to a duration threshold,comparing a size indicated by the detection signal to a size threshold,or any combination thereof, to name a few.

According to embodiments, a user may set, adjust, cancel, or otherwisemanipulate these threshold levels from a user device, whether thosethresholds are stored within electronics stack 140 or remotely inservers 156 A-C.

In embodiments, electronics stack 140 can be electronically coupled tobattery 144. Battery 144 can comprise one or more battery elements inparallel and/or series configured to provide power to motion sensor 116,sensor suite 160, alarm 148, electronics stack 140, tamper sensor 136,or any combination thereof. For example, battery 144 can comprise one ormore lithium-ion batteries, alkaline batteries, lead-acid batteries,aluminum-ion batteries, flow batteries, magnesium-ion batteries,metal-air electrochemical cells, nickel-ion batteries, zinc-ionbatteries, or any combination thereof, to name a few. According toembodiments, battery 144 can comprise an alternative power source suchas an alternating current (“AC”) power source, direct current (“DC”)power source, power over ethernet (PoE), a solar photovoltaic cell, awind turbine, or any combination thereof, and/or power electronics suchas a half-bridge rectifier, full-bridge rectifier, inverter,maximum-point power tracker, power converter (such as a buck converter,boost converter, buck-boost converter, flyback converter, transformer,etc.), or any combination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, ifbattery 144 includes PoE, a DC power source, and/or an AC wall outletpower, operation of motion sensor 116, particle sensor 120, chemicalsensor 124, temperature sensor 128, humidity sensor 132, tamper sensor146, electronics stack 140, alarm 148, or any combination thereof mayremained powered at all times.

According to embodiments, battery 144 is configured to provide power toat least a portion of sensor suite 160, alarm 148, electronics stack140, and/or tamper sensor 136 based upon electronics stack 140. Inembodiments, electronics stack 140 can comprise power managementcircuitry including, for example, a power microcontroller, switches,relays, transistors, linear regulators, power converters, or anycombination thereof, to name a few. The power management circuitry ofelectronics stack 140 can be configured to provide power from battery144 to at least a portion of sensor suite 160, alarm 148, and/or tampersensor 136 based upon a received detection signal from motion sensor116, or another sensor configured to act as a trigger for the powermanagement circuitry, and in embodiments may comprise particle sensor120, chemical sensor 124, and/or a real time clock configured to keeptrack of time. According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 can beconfigured to provide power from battery 144 to at least a portion ofsensor suite 160, alarm 148, and/or tamper sensor 136 according to thesize, duration, time, and/or quantity of detected objects 108 A, Bindicated by a detection signal, according to a time the detectionsignal is received, or any combination thereof. For example, when thedetection signal indicates that an object 108 A, B has enteredenvironment 104, electronics stack 140 can be configured to providepower to particle sensor 120 such that particle sensor 120 is adequatelypowered to take measurements. As another example, electronics stacks 140can be configured to provide power from battery 144 to sensor suite 160when a detection signal indicating an object 108 A, B of a predeterminedsize has entered environment 104. Electronics stack 140 may also beconfigured to calibrate and/or trim any and all sensors that may bepresent within vaporized aerosol detection system 100 and/or coupled tothe system remotely. Calibration of sensors and systems may comprisezeroing a sensor after a reading, power cycle, malfunction, or the like.

In embodiments, electronics stack 140 can be configured to monitor apower and/or battery level of battery 144 and generate a signalincluding data representing the current power and/or battery level ofbattery 144. The data representing the current power and/or batterylevel of battery 144 can represent the current, historical, or projectedpower and/or battery level of battery 144 and can be expressed as apercentage, a value (such as in amp hours), graphically, or anycombination thereof. According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 canbe configured to compare the data representing the current power and/orbattery level of battery 144 to a predetermined low-battery thresholdwhich may be stored in electronics stack 140 or servers 156 A-C. Inembodiments, electronics stack 140 can be configured to generate alow-battery alert when the current power and/or battery level of battery144 is equal to or less than the low-battery threshold value. Thelow-battery alert can comprise a signal including representing thatbattery 144 is at low power and may be configured to be displayed on adisplay or user device. In embodiments, the low-battery alert maycomprise a signal configured to induce a change in a color of a displaysuch as an LED. For example, the low-battery alert may be configured toswitch an LED from green to red.

According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 can be configured toprovide and/or transmit the signal including data representing thecurrent power and/or battery level of battery 144 to servers 156 A-C.Servers 156 A-C can be configured to compare the data representing thecurrent power and/or battery level of battery 144 to the predeterminedlow-battery threshold. In embodiments, servers 156 A-C can be configuredto generate a low-battery alert when the current power and/or batterylevel of battery 144 is equal to or less than the low-battery thresholdvalue.

According to embodiments, a user may set, adjust, cancel, or otherwisemanipulate the low-battery threshold level from a user device, whetherthe low-battery threshold is stored within electronics stack 140 orremotely in servers 156 A-C.

In embodiments, when power is provided to sensor suite 160 from battery144, sensor suite 160 can be configured to detect substances 112 inenvironment 104. Substances 112 can include one or more substances,gases, and/or particles that have been aerosolized in at least a portionof environment 104. For example, substances 112 can include chemicalparticles from a nicotine vaping device, a cannabinoid vaping device, atetrahydrocannabinol vaping device, a chemical spill (such as dimethylsulfate, toluene diisocyanate), hazardous gas clouds (such as arsine,dimethyl sulfate, toluene, hydrogen azide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogendioxide), animal excrement (such as ammonia), tobacco smoke, carbondioxide, carbon monoxide, methamphetamine, fentanyl, anhydrous ammonia,or any combination thereof, to name a few. Sensor suite 160 can beconfigured to detect the quantity (i.e. particle count), density, size,structure, and/or dispersion of substances 112 and can include particlesensor 120, chemical sensor 124, temperature sensor 128, humidity sensor132, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, sensor suite 160 may beelectronically and/or communicatively coupled to electronics stack 140.Communicative coupling may comprise a connection sufficient to transferdata back and forth between sensor suite 160 and electronics stack 140.Communicative coupling may be a wired or wireless connection that mayemploy electronic buses, ethernet, internet, WiFi, Bluetooth, cellularnetwork, or another undisclosed method alone or in combination.Additionally, or alternatively, sensor suite 160 may be communicativelycoupled to at least a server 156 A-C. This communicative coupling, asdisclosed, is a connection sufficient for transferring data betweensensor suite 160 and at least a server 156 A-C and can include WiFi,ethernet, cellular networks, Bluetooth, NB-IoT, LTE CAT1, LTE-M1, CATNB1, long-range (LoRA) communication connects, or any combinationthereof, to name a few.

In an embodiment, sensor suite 160 may comprise particle sensor 120.Particle sensor 120 can comprise one or more sensors that are configuredto detect a quantity (i.e. particle count), size, structure, dispersion,or any combination thereof, of substances 112. In embodiments, particlesensor 120 may be configured to differentiate ambient particles presentin environment 104 to substances of interest that may trigger an alertwithin the system. For example, particle sensor 120 may be configured tocompare a historical reading of particles in environment 104 to adetection of substances 112 to determine what particles withinsubstances 112 are ambient in environment 104 and which particles may besubstances of interest. According to embodiments, particle sensor 120may be configured to measure or otherwise detect the quantity (i.e.particle count), size, structure, dispersion, or any combinationthereof, of particles present in substances 112 and may be configured totranslate those readings into electronic signals. According toembodiments, particle sensor 120 may be electronically and/orcommunicatively coupled to electronics stack 140 and can be configuredto send signals including data representing the quantity (i.e. particlecount), size, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, ofparticles present in substances 112 to electronics stack 140.

In embodiments, sensor suite 160 may include chemical sensor 124.Chemical sensor 124 can include one or more sensors configured to detectthe structure, size, shape, and/or composition of particles in order todetermine the chemical composition of substances 112 in environment 104.Chemical sensor 124 may comprise a printed electrochemical sensor,Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuit, metal oxide,nanotube, micro cantilever, micro hot plates, mobility spectrometer (ionor differential), mass spectrometer, infrared spectrometer, or anycombination thereof, to name a few examples. In embodiments, chemicalsensor 124 may be configured to differentiate ambient chemicals presentin environment 104 to chemicals of interest that may trigger an alertwithin the system. For example, chemical sensor 124 may be configured todetect a plurality of chemicals and/or gaseous or aerosolized particles,some of which may include nicotine, cannabinoids,tetrahydrocannabinoids, particles from a chemical spill (such asdimethyl sulfate, toluene diisocyanate), particles in hazardous gasclouds (such as arsine, hydrogen azide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogendioxide), particles from animal excrement (such as ammonia), tobaccosmoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogendioxide, respiratory irritants, indicators of indoor air quality, or anycombination thereof. Chemical sensor 124 may translate readings itcollects to an electronic signal including data representing thestructure, size, shape, and/or composition of particles. In embodiments,chemical sensor 124 can be electronically and/or communicatively coupledto electronics stack 140 and can be configured to send the signalsincluding data representing the structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of particles to electronics stack 140.

According to embodiments, sensor suite 160 may comprise temperaturesensor 128. Temperature sensor 128 can include one or more sensorsconfigured to determine the temperature of environment 104. Temperature,for the purposes of this disclosure, is the amount of heat energypresent in environment 104. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that temperature is truly the amount of kinetic energypresent in an environment on the atomic level, and for the purposes ofthis disclosure, temperature as it affects electronics, humans, objects,and/or gaseous elements may be measured in Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvinand/or the like. According to embodiments, temperature sensor 128 maydetermine a temperature of environment 104 to help assess thedispersion, density, and/or composition of substances 112 in environment104. Additionally, temperature sensor 128 may determine the temperatureof environment 104 to assess the health of the electronics and sensorspresent within vaporized aerosol detection system 100. In embodiments,temperature sensor 128 may be configured to generate a signal includingdata representing a detected temperature of environment 104 and providethis signal to electronics stack 140, at least a first server 156 A-C,or a combination thereof. In embodiments, this signal may also includedata alerting a user of a change in temperature of environment 104 overor under certain thresholds or to alert a user of aerosolized particlesevidenced by a change in temperature. According to embodiments,temperature sensor 128 may translate readings it collects intoelectronic signals including data representing the detectedtemperatures. Temperature sensor 128 can be electronically and/orcommunicatively coupled to electronics stack 140 and can be configuredto provide such signals to electronics stack 140.

In embodiments, sensor suite 160 may comprise humidity sensor 132.Humidity sensor 132 can include one or more sensors configured todetermine the amount of humidity present in environment 104. Humidity,for the purposes of this disclosure is the quantity of vaporized waterin a gaseous area, in this case air of environment 104. Humidity sensor132 may be further configured to measure humidity in one of threegeneral methods: absolute, relative, and specific. Absolute humiditydescribes the water content of air and is expressed in either grams percubic meter or grams per kilogram. Relative humidity may be expressed asa percentage and indicate a present state of absolute humidity relativeto a maximum humidity given the same temperature (as determined bytemperature sensor 128). Specific humidity is the ratio of water vapormass to total moist air parcel mass. Humidity sensor 132 may beconfigured to determine humidity of environment 104 in order to detect achange in air density, which may be due to the presence of substances112. Humidity sensor 132 may additionally or alternatively be configuredto determine humidity of environment 104 in order to ascertain theoptimal range of humidity for the complement of other sensors present insensor suite 160, in an embodiment. Humidity sensor 132 may translatereadings it collects into electronic signals including data representingthe humidity in environment 104. In embodiments, humidity sensor 132 canbe electronically and/or communicatively coupled to electronics stack140 and can be configured to provide such signals to electronics stack140.

According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 may comprise equipmentnecessary to receive signals generated from any disclosed or undisclosedsensor present within vaporized aerosol detection system 100.Electronics stack 140 can comprise analog and/or digital circuitryconfigured to condition, analyze, and/or transform received signals. Forexample, electronics stack 140 can comprise a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a power microcontroller, a processor, ananalog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, logiccircuitry, or any combination thereof, to name a few.

In embodiments, electronics stack 140 may be configured to determine ifsubstances of interest are present. Substances of interest can includeany particles that may be a cause of concern for environment 104. Forexample, substances of interest can include substances that aredisallowed in environment 104 (such as nicotine, cannabinoids,tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobacco smoke, etc.), substances that arehazardous (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, arsine, hydrogen azide,hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.),undesirable substances for environment 104 (tobacco smoke, nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, etc.),or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to embodiments,determining whether substances of interest are present in environment104 can include comparing levels of signals received from sensor suite160 to various, predetermined threshold values. For example, electronicsstack 140 may be configured to receive a signal including datarepresenting a detected structure, size, shape, and/or composition ofsubstances 112 and compare one or more levels included in this signal topredetermined threshold values in order to determine what chemicals(i.e. types of particles) are present in substances 112. According toembodiments, a user may set, adjust, cancel, or otherwise manipulatethreshold levels from a user device, whether those thresholds are storedwithin electronics stack 140 or remotely in servers 156 A-C.

According to embodiments, these predetermined threshold values caninclude a level or measure of a detected structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of substances 112. According to embodiments, thesepredetermined threshold values can be stored in a memory such as amemory of electronics stack 140.

In embodiments, electronics stack 140 and/or servers 156 A-C may beconfigured to determine if a detection event has occurred in environment104. A detection event, for the purposes of this disclosure is thedetection of substances, particles, or chemicals of interest insubstances 112 within environment 104. For example, a detection eventmay indicate that a nicotine vaporizer device has been used inenvironment 104, a chemical spill has occurred in environment 104, smokeis present in environment 104, animal excrement is present inenvironment 104, or any combination thereof, to name a few examples.According to embodiments, a detection event can further indicate that aquantity, particle density, and/or dispersion of substances of interestwithin environment 104 have exceeded a predetermined threshold. Forexample, a detection event may indicate that the particle density ofaerosolized vape has exceeded a threshold value in environment 104.

In embodiments, these predetermined threshold values may comprise alevel or measure of a particle density, dispersion, and/or compositionof particles that are disallowed, hazardous, or otherwise undesired inenvironment 104. According to embodiments, these predetermined thresholdvalues can be stored in a memory such as a memory of electronics stack140.

According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 may comprise equipmentnecessary for wireless transmission of electronic signals to a pluralityof servers 156 A-C. Servers 156 can comprise one or more computers,servers, computing clouds, processors, microprocessors, a memory (e.g.flash memory, hard disk drive, solid state memory, random-access memory,programmable read-only memory, electronically erasable programmableread-only memory, or any combination thereof, to name a few), or anycombination thereof. For example, electronics stack 140 may comprise atransceiver and can be configured to be communicatively coupled to aserver 156 by a cellular phone network(s), wireless local area network(WLAN), wireless personal area networks (WPAN), wireless wide areanetworks (WWAN), wireless sensor networks, satellite communicationnetworks, terrestrial microwave networks, Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee,low-power long range wide area network (LoRaWan and LoRa), internet,ethernet, a wireless ad-hoc network also known as a wireless meshnetwork, and/or any combination thereof. In embodiments, thesepredetermined threshold values may be stored within servers 156 A-C.

In embodiments, the processing of signals to determine detection eventsmay be additionally or alternatively handled by remotely located servers156 A-C. According to embodiments, servers 156 may be configured todetermine what particles are present in environment 104 and whether adetection event has occurred by comparing levels of signals receivedfrom electronics stack 140 to various, predetermined threshold values.For example, servers 156 A-C may be configured to receive a signalincluding data representing a detected structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of substances 112 and compare one or more levels included inthis signal to predetermined threshold values in order to determine whatchemicals (i.e. types of particles) are present in substances 112.

According to embodiments, electronics stack 140 may be configured totrigger an alert based on a detection event by electronics stack 140 orservers 156 A-C. In embodiments, when electronics stack 140 and/orservers 156 A-C have detected that a detection event has occurred,electronics stack 140 may then generate an alert signal and/or providepower to alarm 148 from battery 144. The alert signal may comprise anelectrical signal configured to activate alarm 148. Alarm 148 caninclude an auditory alarm or signaling device (such as a buzzer, siren,horn, etc.), a visual alarm or signaling device (such as an LED, strobelight, laser, LED screen, LCD screen, etc.), tactile alarm orsignalizing device (such as a vibration alarm, motor, etc.), or anycombination thereof. Activating alarm 148 may include sending anelectronic signal to alarm 148 to induce an audible alert (such as, forexample, a chime, chirp, siren, beep, or otherwise artificial noise), avisual alert (such as, for example, flashing lights, a display, astrobe, color lights, etc.), a tactile alert (such as vibration,shaking, etc.), and/or any alert sufficient to alert that a detectionevent has occurred in environment 104. A user may adjust alarm volume,alarm sound, alarm light display, and disable alarm through user deviceand/or server 156 A-C.

In an embodiment, vaporized aerosol detection system 100 may alsocomprise tampering sensor 136. Tampering sensor 136 can include one ormore sensors disposed within or on housing 152 and be configured todetect a tampering event. A tampering event can comprise someonebreaking open vaporized aerosol detection system 100, someone movingvaporized aerosol detection system 100, someone touching vaporizedaerosol detection system 100, someone hitting vaporized aerosoldetection system 100, someone shaking vaporized aerosol detection system100, someone disconnecting vaporized aerosol detection system 100, orany combination thereof. According to embodiments, tampering sensor 136can be configured to detect a tampering event by detecting that anobject in close proximity to vaporized aerosol detection system 100,movement of vaporized aerosol detection system 100, integrity of housing152, or any combination thereof. For example, tampering sensor 136 cancomprise one or more sensors configured to detect a tampering event whena person is attempting to move or break open vaporized aerosol detectionsystem 100.

According to embodiments, tamper sensor 136 is configured to generate atamper alarm when a tampering event is detected. A tamper alarmcomprises an electronic signal configured to induce an audible alert, avisual alert, a tactile alert, and/or any alert sufficient to alert thata tamper event from alarm 148. In other embodiments, tamper sensor 136may generate signals including data representing that an object is inclose proximity to vaporized aerosol detection system 100, movement ofvaporized aerosol detection system 100, integrity of housing 152, or anycombination thereof. Tamper sensor 136 may be electronically and/orcommunicatively coupled to electronics stack 140 and configured toprovide said signals to electronics stack 140. In embodiments,electronics stack 140 can be configured to detect that a tampering eventhas occurred based upon the received signals including data representingthat an object is in close proximity to vaporized aerosol detectionsystem 100, movement of vaporized aerosol detection system 100,integrity of housing 152, or any combination thereof. Electronics stack140 may be configured to generate a tamper alarm when a tampering eventhas occurred. A user may enable, disable, or otherwise manipulate thetamper alarm from a user device and/or server 156 A-C. Tamper alarm mayalso be disabled through, for example, an interlock such as a magneticswitch disposed in or on housing 152, which may be engaged, for example,by a magnetic key fob held by a potential maintainer or user.

In embodiments, at least a portion of motion sensor 116, sensor suite160, tamper sensor 136, electronics stack 140, battery 144, alarm 148,or any combination thereof, can be enclosed or encased with housing 152.Housing 152 may comprise a shape having a number of sides or faces whicheach side comprising opposite, opposing surfaces with a thicknessbetween them. According to embodiments, a first surface of a side canform a portion of an outer wall of housing 152 and a second, opposingand opposite surface of the side can form a portion of an inner wall ofhousing 152. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of claim 1,housing 152 comprises a hollow three-dimensional prism with an outermold line with a thickness. In embodiments, housing 152 may be onecontinuous shape or may be mechanically fastened smaller individualpieces configured to encase or enclose at least a portion of motionsensor 116, sensor suite 160, tamper senor 136, electronics stack 140,battery 144, alarm 148, or any combination thereof.

According to embodiments, housing 152 may be configured to snap togethernon-permanently such that housing 152 may be pulled apart by a user forallowed access to interior components. Housing 152 may compriseinjection molded plastics like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) orAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), stamped or otherwise machinedmetal like aluminum, steel alloys, tin, or other alloys. Housing 152 maycomprise a back plate which can be permanently or temporarilymechanically fastened to a cover through screws, nails, snap connectors,epoxy, glue, double-sided tape, rivets, or another undisclosed methodalone or in combination. In embodiments, housing 152 may, in a hollowspace within, enclose or encase at least a portion of motion sensor 116,sensor suite 160 (including particle sensor 120, chemical sensor 124,temperature sensor 128, humidity sensor 132, or any combinationthereof), alarm 148, battery 144, electronics stack 140, tamper sensor136 or a portion of any which may allow its optimal operation. Housing152 may comprise cut-throughs and openings where a sensor may needaccess to an air sample of environment 104 or where a vaporized aerosolmay enter housing to reach any internal component.

In embodiments, vaporized aerosol detection system 100 may include adisplay such as, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) display,liquid crystal display (LCD), electronic ink display, cathode ray tube(CRT) display, organic LED display, or any combination thereof.According to embodiments, the display can be configured to display oneor more alerts, measures and/or levels detected by sensor suit 160,battery level (especially low battery), a temperature of environment104, a humidity of environment 104, general health information, or anycombination thereof.

According to embodiments, motion sensor 116 can include one or morecameras communicatively coupled to electronics stack 140 and/or servers156 A-C. These cameras may include, for example, video cameras, stillcameras, SLR cameras, DSLR camera, closed circuit networks, or anycombination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, electronics stack140 can be configured to provide power from battery 144 to a camera ofmotion sensor 116 when a detection event is detected. In response tobeing provided power and/or when a detection event is detected, a cameraof motion sensor 116 can be configured to capture one or more images ofenvironment 104, such as photographs and/or video footage of environment104.

In embodiments, the captured videos and/or photographs (i.e. images) maybe provided to electronics stack 140 and/or servers 156 A-C. Accordingto embodiments electronics stack 140 and/or servers 156 A-C can each, orin tandem, be configured to analyze, process, and compress the capturedvideo and/or photographs. For example, electronics stack 140 and/orservers 156 A-C can include facial recognition software configured toidentify persons present in the captured videos and/or photographs.Further, electronics stack 140 and/or servers 156 A-C can becommunicatively coupled with an organizational identification databasefor the purposes of facial recognition. In embodiments, analyzing thecaptured video and/or photographs may occur in real-time or may bedelayed.

With reference to FIG. 2A, an isometric view of vaporized aerosoldetection system 200, the similar or the same as vaporized aerosoldetection system 100, is illustrated, according to embodiments.Vaporized aerosol detection system 200 can include motion sensor 216,sensor suite 240 (including particle sensor 220 , chemical sensor 224,temperature sensor (not shown for clarity), humidity sensor (not shownfor clarity), or any combination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228,electronics stack 236, tamper sensor (not shown for clarity), similar orthe same as components hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 1.

In embodiments, device housing 204, similar or the same as housing 152,is configured to enclose at least a portion of motion sensor 216, sensorsuite 240 (including particle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224,temperature sensor (not shown for clarity), humidity sensor (not shownfor clarity), or any combination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228,electronics stack 236, tamper sensor, and has a shape with at least oneset of opposite, opposing surfaces. The shape of housing 204 can includeany three-dimensional shape having one or more faces. In embodiments,the shape of housing 204 is hollow allowing housing 204 to enclose atleast a portion of motion sensor 216, sensor suite 240 (includingparticle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224, temperature sensor, humiditysensor, or any combination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228, electronicsstack 236, and/or tamper sensor. For example, in the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, housing 204 has the shape of arectangular prism or a hollow box. According to embodiments, each faceof the shape of housing 204 forms a respective wall of housing 204. Awall comprises a piece of material having opposite, opposing surfaces(e.g. an inner surface and an outer surface) with a thickness betweenthem.

According to embodiments, a wall of housing 204 may comprise venting 208which allows for air to travel within housing 204. Venting 208 may beaccomplished by any number or combination of methods including, but notlimited to slotting, screens, perforations, cutouts, pass throughs,milled holes, or injection-molded openings, to name a few. By allowingair to travel within housing 204, vaporized aerosol containing chemicalparticles may be provided to the sensors enclosed with housing 204 forsampling. Venting 208 may be disposed on any or all walls of housing 204to allow for directed airflow.

In embodiments, housing 152 may be configured to enclose or encase oneor more fans. Each fan may be disposed within housing 152 such that thefan is configured to draw air into venting 208 and/or push air out ofventing 208. In embodiments, the fans enclosed within housing 152 may beconfigured to create a positive or negative pressure within housing 152such that air is pulled into and/or forced out of venting 208. Accordingto embodiments, creating a negative or positive pressure within devicehousing 152 may allow for air to travel within housing 152 so that itmay be sampled by the sensors enclosed within housing 204. Inembodiments, power may be provided to the fans from battery.

According to embodiments, housing 204 may comprise a flapper that allowsair to pass through venting 208 such as during sampling but does notallow high pressure bursts of air to enter the system. In other words,the flapper can be configured to allow a low flow sampling (such as, forexample <1 m/s airflow) while preventing higher flow rates or bursts(such as, for example, >1 m/s airflow). The flapper may be disposed nearventing 208 and configured so that a sudden burst of air may force theflapper closed over at least a portion of venting 208 in order toprotect the components enclosed within housing 204 from damage. Theflapper may be made of mylar, aluminum, various plastics, or anotherundisclosed combination of lightweight materials. The closure of theflapper may be communicated wirelessly or through a wired connection toelectronics stack 140 and/or servers 156 A-C for the purpose ofnotifying a user that sampling is taking place or the possibility thattampering was detected, for example. The flapper, in embodiments mayhave an electrical connection-type sensor that can determine if theflapper is closed by the presence of a completed circuit within thesensor, this is merely an example as any contact sensor or grouping ofsensors may accomplish this task.

For example, air may enter housing 204 and travel over the enclosedparticle sensor 216 and chemical sensor 220 laminarly so that particlesensor 216 and chemical sensor 220 may sample the air. Laminar flow isdefined as non-turbulent flow with smooth streamlines and little to nomixing of layers of flowing particles. According to embodiments, thearrangement of the particle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224, and anyother sensors that may be present alone or in combination fully and/orpartially enclosed within housing 204 may be sequential such thatairflow is sampled by sensors in the order in which the sensors arereached by the airflow.

According to embodiments, housing 204 may comprise mounting hardware 212for mounting the device in a plurality of orientations and in aplurality of locations. Mounting hardware 212 may comprise threadedholes, clearance holes, hooks, slots, or other hardware interfaces thatmay accept or interact with standard hardware for mounting in aplurality of arrangements and orientations. In the exemplary embodimentFIG. 2A mounting hardware 212 is arranged for mounting on a wall of aroom. This is only an example and one of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand mounting hardware 212 may take another form for mounting thedevice on a ceiling or in a vehicle.

According to embodiments, housing 204 and enclosed components may alsobe configured in line with an air filtration system, a vehicle airsystem, an HVAC system, an air conditioning system, or any system whichpasses air and/or gaseous fluid through it. In embodiments, vaporizedaerosol detection system 200 may be configured to be only a subcomponentor process in a larger system such that it may detect information abouta detection event and convey that to a larger system. These systems,both system 200 and the larger HVAC-type system, may be disposed in oron residential or commercial buildings, vehicles like airplanes, cars,and/or trucks, or any combination thereof, to name a few. Housing 204may also comprise a screen configured to provide general informationabout the system, warnings or alerts, and/or health-related informationconfigurable by a user or as reflected by sensor data from the system.

With reference to FIG. 2B an isometric cutaway view of device from FIG.2A is shown. The disposition of previously shown sensors 216, 220, 224,may alternatively be found within or on the device as well. In FIG. 2Belectronics stack 236 is shown along with battery 228 and alarm 232. Oneof ordinary skill in the art would understand that the arrangement ofcomponents within housing 204 are example embodiments and in otherembodiments may take different forms allowing for different shapedhousings, airflow directions, mounting arrangements, and environmentallocations.

With reference to FIG. 3 a flow chart illustrating a method forvaporized aerosol detection 300 is presented. At 305, a motion sensor,particle sensor, chemical sensor, and/or real time clock similar or thesame as motion sensor 116, particle sensor 120, or chemical sensor 124,respectively, may be active. According to an embodiment, at 310, themotion sensor can be configured to determine whether motion has beendetected by detecting the motion, proximity, and/or presence of one ormore objects within an area. In embodiments, detecting whether motionhas been detected in an environment can include comparing a detectedmotion, proximity, presence, size, speed, or any combination thereof toa threshold value. In this way, certain types of motion (such as fromsmall animals) may be filtered out while other types of motion (such asfrom a person walking) will be detected. In another embodiment, asimilar methodology may be followed with a chemical sensor similar to orthe same as chemical sensor 124. The chemical sensor may additionally oralternatively be powered on and upon detection of a substance ofinterest, may provide similar signals as motion sensor 116 configured topower the system as described below. In yet another example embodiment,a similar methodology may be followed with a particle sensor similar toor the same as particle sensor 120. The particle sensor may additionallyor alternatively be powered on, and upon detection of a substance ofinterest, may provide similar signals as motion sensor 116 or chemicalsensor 124 configured to power the system as described below.Additionally, or alternatively, a real time clock, which keeps track oftime, may be used as a timer to power system on and off at predeterminedtimes or intervals.

Further, at 310, if motion has been detected, particles have beendetected, chemicals have been detected, and/or a predetermined time haselapsed or arrived then the system moves on to 315, otherwise 305 isrepeated. At 315, a portion of the system, which may correspond to atleast a portion of a sensor suite similar or the same as sensor suite160 is activated. Step 315 may comprise powering a portion of the sensorsuite and arming constituent sensors. The arming of sensors at step 315may also command those sensors to begin taking measurements. The armingof sensors is irrespective of readings of any sensors, in other words,if motion is detected at step 310, the sensor suite may start takingmeasurements with or without the presence of vaporized aerosols.

At 320, a particle count of the environment is measured by the sensorsuite. The sensor suite is configured to detect the quantity, size,density, composition, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof,of aerosolized particles in vaporized aerosol in a certain area similaror the same as environment 104. In embodiments, the sensor suite isconfigured to generate one or more signals including data representingthe quantity, size, density, composition, structure, dispersion, or anycombination thereof of the aerosolized particles. According toembodiments, these signals may be sent to an electronics stack, the sameas or similar to, electronics stack 140.

At 325, the system is configured to determine whether a detection eventhas occurred. Determining whether a detection event has occurred cancomprise determining the presence of substances of interest in the area.Substances of interest can include any substances that may be a cause ofconcern for the area. For example, substances of interest can includesubstances that are disallowed in the area (such as nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobacco smoke, etc.), particlesthat are hazardous (carbon monoxide, arsine, hydrogen azide, hydrogencyanide, nitrogen dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.),undesirable particles for the area (tobacco smoke, nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, etc.),or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to embodiments,determining the presence of substances of interest can includecomparing, respectively by an electronics stack and/or at least aserver, a detected size, structure, composition, density, and/ordispersion to a threshold value. For example, a detected size exceedinga threshold value may indicate that substances of interest are presentin the area.

Further, at 325, the system is configured to compare the quantity,particle density, and/or dispersion of detected substances of interestto one or more predetermined threshold values in order to determine if adetection event has occurred. For example, the system may be configuredto compare a detected particle density (such as from a cloud ofaerosolized vape) to a threshold value and determine that the particledensity has exceeded the threshold value indicating a detection eventhas occurred. If a detection event has occurred then the system moves to330, otherwise the system repeats step 305.

At 330, an alarm signal is generated. The alarm signal can comprise asignal configured to induce an alert from an alarm similar or the sameas alarm 148. The alert can include an auditory alert or signal (such asa buzzer, siren, horn, etc.), a visual alert or signal (such as an LED,strobe light, laser, LED screen, LCD screen, etc.), tactile alert orsignal (such as a vibration alarm, motor, etc.), or any combinationthereof.

At 335, the alarm signal can be transmitted to one or more servers thesame or similar as server 156 A-C or a user device and additionallystored. The alarm signal can include data indicating that a detectionevent has occurred in the area and can be configured to display aparticle count, density, size, composition, etc. as well as the area inwhich the detection event occurred on the user device. A user device maycomprise a computer, a processor, a server, a smartphone, a tablet, alaptop, or any combination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, auser may disable the alarm from a user device, whether that alarm wastriggered by a detection event or a tamper event.

With reference to FIG. 4, a flow chart illustrating a method for powerdistribution in a vaporized aerosol detection system 400 is presented.At 405, a motion sensor, particle sensor, chemical sensor, or the like,which may be similar or the same as motion sensor 116, particle sensor120, or chemical sensor 124, respectively, may be active. At 410, themotion sensor can be configured to determine whether motion has beendetected by detecting the motion, proximity, and/or presence of one ormore objects within an area. Additionally, or alternatively, at 410, theparticle sensor or chemical sensor may be configured to determine ifvaporized aerosols and/or chemicals are present within an area. Inembodiments, detecting whether motion has been detected in anenvironment can include comparing a detected motion, proximity,presence, size, speed, or any combination thereof to a threshold value.In this way, certain types of motion (such as from small animals) may befiltered out while other types of motion (such as from a person walking)will be detected. In another example embodiment, a similar methodologymay be followed with a chemical sensor similar to or the same aschemical sensor 124. The chemical sensor may be powered on, and upondetection of a substance of interest, may provide similar signals asmotion sensor 116 configured to power the system as described below. Inyet another example embodiment, a similar methodology may be followedwith a particle sensor similar to or the same as particle sensor 120.The particle sensor may additionally or alternatively be powered on, andupon detection of a substance of interest, may provide similar signalsas motion sensor 116 or chemical sensor 124 configured to power thesystem as described below. Additionally, or alternatively, a real timeclock, which keeps track of time, may be used as a timer to power systemon and off at predetermined times or intervals.

Further, at 410, and in separate or the same example embodiments, ifmotion has been detected, particles have been detected, chemicals havebeen detected, and/or a predetermined time has elapsed or arrived thenthe system moves on to 415, otherwise 405 is repeated. At 415, a portionof the system is activated, this may correspond to a sensor suitesimilar or the same as sensor suite 160. In embodiments, activating aportion of the system, such as the sensor suite, can comprise providingpower to one or more sensors within the sensor suite from a battery thesimilar or the same or battery 144. In embodiments, power from battery144 can be controlled and directed by electronics stack the same orsimilar as electronics stack 140. Electronics stack 140 can beconfigured to provide power to one or more sensors of the sensor suitewhen motion, particles, chemicals, or in general, substances of interesthave been detected in the area. Further, in embodiments, the electronicsstack 140 can be configured to provide power from battery 140 to one ormore components of electronics stack 140 in response to motion beingdetected in the area.

In an embodiment, at 420, a particle count of the environment ismeasured by the powered sensors within the sensor suite. The poweredsensors can be configured to detect the quantity, size, density,composition, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, ofaerosolized particles in vaporized aerosol in a certain area similar orthe same as environment 104. In embodiments, the powered sensors areconfigured to generate one or more signals including data representingthe quantity, size, density, composition, structure, dispersion, or anycombination thereof of the aerosolized particles. According toembodiments, these signals may be sent to the electronics stack.

At 425, the system is configured to determine whether a detection eventhas occurred. Determining whether a detection event has occurred cancomprise determining the presence of substances of interest in the area.Substances of interest can include any particles that may be a cause ofconcern in the area. For example, substances of interest can includeparticles that are disallowed in the area (such as nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobacco smoke, etc.), particlesthat are hazardous (carbon monoxide, arsine, hydrogen azide, hydrogencyanide, nitrogen dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.),undesirable particles for the area (tobacco smoke, nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, etc.),or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to embodiments,determining the presence of substances of interest can includecomparing, respectively by an electronics stack and/or at least aserver, a detected size, structure, composition, density, and/ordispersion to a threshold value. For example, a detected size exceedinga threshold value may indicate that substances of interest are presentin the area.

Further, at 425, the system is configured to compare the quantity,particle density, and/or dispersion of detected substances of interestto one or more predetermined threshold values in order to determine if adetection event has occurred. For example, the system may be configuredto compare a detected particle density of carbon monoxide to a thresholdvalue and determine that the particle density has exceeded the thresholdvalue indicating a detection event has occurred. If a detection eventhas occurred then the system moves to 430, otherwise the system maycease providing power to the sensors and the system repeats step 405.

At step 430, power is provided from the battery to a transceiver withinthe electronics stack. The transceiver can be configured to transmitand/or receive data from one or more servers the same or similar toservers 156 A-C and/or a user device via, for example, internet,cellular networks, WIFI, Bluetooth, ZigBee, ethernet, wired connections,or any combination thereof. A user device may comprise a computer, aprocessor, a server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or anycombination thereof, to name a few.

At step 435, power is provided from the battery to an alarm the same orsimilar as alarm 148. In embodiments, alarm 148 is configured togenerate an alert or signal when power is provided and/or an alarmsignal is received. Such an alert can include, but is not limited to, anaudible alert or signal (such as a buzzer, siren, horn, etc.), a visualalert or signal (such as an LED, strobe light, laser, LED screen, LCDscreen, etc.), tactile alert or signal (such as a vibration alarm,motor, etc.), or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a graph 500 representing example sensor signals508, 516, 520, 524, and 528 and an example threshold 532 over particlecount 504 vs time 512 is presented, according to an example embodiment.Graph 500 demonstrates an example particle count threshold that, whenexceeded, may trigger an alarm and/or alert. According to graph 500, itcan be seen that sensor signals 508, 516, 520, 524, and exceed threshold532. Conversely, sensor signal line 528 does not exceed threshold 532and would therefore not trigger an alarm and/or an alert due to adetection event that has occurred.

It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and embodimentsdescribed herein may be conveniently implemented using one or moremachines (e.g., one or more computing devices that are utilized as auser computing device for an electronic document, one or more serverdevices, such as a document server, etc.) programmed according to theteachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the computer art. Appropriate software coding canreadily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of thepresent disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above employingsoftware and/or software modules may also include appropriate hardwarefor assisting in the implementation of the machine executableinstructions of the software and/or software module.

Such software may be a computer program product that employs amachine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium maybe any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding a sequence ofinstructions for execution by a machine (e.g., a computing device) andthat causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/orembodiments described herein. Examples of a machine-readable storagemedium include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disc(e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a read-onlymemory “ROM” device, a random access memory “RAM” device, a magneticcard, an optical card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM,and any combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein,is intended to include a single medium as well as a collection ofphysically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of compactdiscs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a computermemory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium does notinclude transitory forms of signal transmission.

Such software may also include information (e.g., data) carried as adata signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave. For example,machine-executable information may be included as a data-carrying signalembodied in a data carrier in which the signal encodes a sequence ofinstruction, or portion thereof, for execution by a machine (e.g., acomputing device) and any related information (e.g., data structures anddata) that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologiesand/or embodiments described herein.

Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited to, anelectronic book reading device, a computer workstation, a terminalcomputer, a server computer, a handheld device (e.g., a tablet computer,a smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a sequence ofinstructions that specify an action to be taken by that machine, and anycombinations thereof. In one example, a computing device may includeand/or be included in a kiosk.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of acomputing device in the exemplary form of a computer system 600 withinwhich a set of instructions for causing a control system to perform anyone or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure may be executed. It is also contemplated that multiplecomputing devices may be utilized to implement a specially configuredset of instructions for causing one or more of the devices to performany one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure. Computer system 600 includes a processor 604 and a memory608 that communicate with each other, and with other components, via abus 612. Bus 612 may include any of several types of bus structuresincluding, but not limited to, a memory bus, a memory controller, aperipheral bus, a local bus, and any combinations thereof, using any ofa variety of bus architectures.

Processor 604 may include any suitable processor, such as withoutlimitation a processor incorporating logical circuitry for performingarithmetic and logical operations, such as an arithmetic and logic unit(ALU), which may be regulated with a state machine and directed byoperational inputs from memory and/or sensors; processor 604 may beorganized according to Von Neumann and/or Harvard architecture as anon-limiting example. Processor 604 may include, incorporate, and/or beincorporated in, without limitation, a microcontroller, microprocessor,digital signal processor (DSP), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Graphical Processing Unit(GPU), general purpose GPU, Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), analog ormixed signal processor, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a floating pointunit (FPU), and/or system on a chip (SoC)

Memory 608 may include various components (e.g., machine-readable media)including, but not limited to, a random-access memory component, a readonly component, and any combinations thereof. In one example, a basicinput/output system 616 (BIOS), including basic routines that help totransfer information between elements within computer system 600, suchas during start-up, may be stored in memory 608. Memory 608 may alsoinclude (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media)instructions (e.g., software) 620 embodying any one or more of theaspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In anotherexample, memory 608 may further include any number of program modulesincluding, but not limited to, an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, program data, and anycombinations thereof.

Computer system 600 may also include a storage device 624. Examples of astorage device (e.g., storage device 624) include, but are not limitedto, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disc drive incombination with an optical medium, a solid-state memory device, and anycombinations thereof. Storage device 624 may be connected to bus 612 byan appropriate interface (not shown). Example interfaces include, butare not limited to, SCSI, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serialATA, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE), and anycombinations thereof. In one example, storage device 624 (or one or morecomponents thereof) may be removably interfaced with computer system 600(e.g., via an external port connector (not shown)). Particularly,storage device 624 and an associated machine-readable medium 628 mayprovide nonvolatile and/or volatile storage of machine-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and/or other data forcomputer system 600. In one example, software 620 may reside, completelyor partially, within machine-readable medium 628. In another example,software 620 may reside, completely or partially, within processor 604.

Computer system 600 may also include an input device 632. In oneexample, a user of computer system 600 may enter commands and/or otherinformation into computer system 600 via input device 632. Examples ofan input device 632 include, but are not limited to, an alpha-numericinput device (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing device, a joystick, agamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone, a voice responsesystem, etc.), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a touchpad, anoptical scanner, a video capture device (e.g., a still camera, a videocamera), a touchscreen, and any combinations thereof. Input device 632may be interfaced to bus 612 via any of a variety of interfaces (notshown) including, but not limited to, a serial interface, a parallelinterface, a game port, a USB interface, a FIREWIRE interface, a directinterface to bus 612, and any combinations thereof. Input device 632 mayinclude a touch screen interface that may be a part of or separate fromdisplay 636, discussed further below. Input device 632 may be utilizedas a user selection device for selecting one or more graphicalrepresentations in a graphical interface as described above.

A user may also input commands and/or other information to computersystem 600 via storage device 624 (e.g., a removable disk drive, a flashdrive, etc.) and/or network interface device 640. A network interfacedevice, such as network interface device 640, may be utilized forconnecting computer system 600 to one or more of a variety of networks,such as network 644, and one or more remote devices 648 connectedthereto. Examples of a network interface device include, but are notlimited to, a network interface card (e.g., a mobile network interfacecard, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof. Examples of anetwork include, but are not limited to, a wide area network (e.g., theInternet, an enterprise network), a local area network (e.g., a networkassociated with an office, a building, a campus or other relativelysmall geographic space), a telephone network, a data network associatedwith a telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobile communications providerdata and/or voice network), a direct connection between two computingdevices, and any combinations thereof. A network, such as network 344,may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of communication. In general,any network topology may be used. Information (e.g., data, software 620,etc.) may be communicated to and/or from computer system 600 via networkinterface device 640.

Computer system 600 may further include a video display adapter 652 forcommunicating a displayable image to a display device, such as displaydevice 636. Examples of a display device include, but are not limitedto, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasmadisplay, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and any combinationsthereof. Display adapter 652 and display device 636 may be utilized incombination with processor 604 to provide graphical representations ofaspects of the present disclosure. In addition to a display device,computer system 600 may include one or more other peripheral outputdevices including, but not limited to, an audio speaker, a printer, andany combinations thereof. Such peripheral output devices may beconnected to bus 612 via a peripheral interface 656. Examples of aperipheral interface include, but are not limited to, a serial port, aUSB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallel connection, and anycombinations thereof.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.Features of each of the various embodiments described above may becombined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate inorder to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associatednew embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number ofseparate embodiments, what has been described herein is merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may beillustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, theordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve methods,systems, and software according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vaporized aerosol detection system, comprising:a motion sensor configured to detect movement in an environment andgenerate a detection signal in response to detected movement in theenvironment; a particle sensor electronically coupled to the motionsensor and configured to detect a particle count of the environment inresponse to the generation of the detection signal; and a housingconfigured to enclose at least a portion of the motion sensor andparticle sensor.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising atransceiver configured to transmit the particle count to one or moreservers, wherein the one or more servers are configured to detect adetection event as a function of the particle count.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the housing comprises a tampering sensor configured todetect a tampering event and generate a tamper alarm in response to thetampering event.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprisesventing openings.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a powercontroller configured to provide power to the particle sensor inresponse to the generation of the detection signal.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a processor configured to compare theparticle count to a predetermined threshold.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the processor is further configured to generate an alarm signalas a function of comparing the particle count to a predeterminedthreshold.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an alarmconfigured to produce an alert in response to the alarm signal.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured todetect a temperature of the environment in response to the generation ofthe detection signal.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing isconfigured to be disposed inline in an air circulation system.
 11. Amethod for vaporized aerosol detection, comprising: detecting, by amotion sensor, movement in an environment; generating, by the motionsensor, a detection signal in response to detected movement in theenvironment; detecting, by a particle sensor electronically coupled tothe motion sensor, a particle count of the environment in response tothe generation of the detection signal; and wherein a least a portion ofthe motion sensor and at least a portion of the particle sensor areenclosed in a housing.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprisingdetecting a detection event, wherein detecting the detection eventcomprises comparing the particle count to a particle threshold.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: generating an alert in responseto the detected detection event; and transmitting the alert to a userdevice.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising capturing animage in response to the detected detection event.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein detecting the particle count further comprisesproviding power to the particle sensor.
 16. The method of claim 11,further comprising detecting, by a humidity sensor, a humidity of theenvironment.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmittingthe particle count to one or more servers, wherein the one or moreservers are configured to detect a detection event as a function of theparticle count.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisinggenerating, by the one or more servers, an alarm signal in response tothe detected detection event.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising generating an audible alarm as a function of the alarmsignal.
 20. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, by achemical sensor, a composition of the particle count in response to thegeneration of the detection signal.